Be curious and go for it: building an engineering career with Noora Farzana
What does a career in engineering really look like today?
From developing critical components for transport systems to working at the forefront of digital and sustainable technologies, engineering is more diverse - and more impactful - than many people realise. For Noora Farzana, Design Engineer in IMI's Industrial Automation UK NPD team, it has been a career built on curiosity, resilience and continuous learning.
Following curiosity into engineering
Noora's path into engineering started early, inspired by seeing her father design and develop equipment for commercial kitchens. Spending time around that environment sparked a long-term interest in how things work, and how they can be improved. That curiosity ultimately shaped her decision to pursue mechanical engineering and build a career solving real-world challenges.
Overcoming challenges in a traditionally male-dominated field
While her early interest was instinctive, the reality of engineering became clearer at university, where female students were significantly underrepresented. Out of around 220 students on her course, just four were female. In the early stages of her career, Noora also encountered challenges in having her voice heard, something many women in engineering still experience today.
Rather than holding her back, those experiences helped her build resilience, develop her technical expertise and prove her value through contribution and results. It is a mindset that has played a key role in her progression within engineering, and one she still draws on today.
Designing solutions that perform in real-world applications
One of Noora's recent career highlights has been working on the development of an updated solenoid valve for transport applications. It wasn't simply a design exercise. The project involved addressing existing engineering challenges, selecting new materials, considering manufacturability and assembly, and collaborating closely with teams beyond design.
The result is not just a product improvement, but a deeper understanding of how engineering solutions need to perform across their full lifecycle - from concept and prototyping through to production and in‑field reliability.
Why engineering is about continuous learning
For Noora, one of the most rewarding aspects of engineering is its variety. No two days are the same. Her role spans developing new mechanical concepts, solving complex design challenges and adapting solutions to meet very different industry requirements. With technology evolving rapidly, learning is constant, and essential. That continuous development is what keeps engineering both challenging and rewarding.
The role of technology in shaping the future of engineering
Looking ahead, Noora is particularly interested in technologies that improve both efficiency and sustainability. Advances in condition monitoring, digital connectivity and simulation tools are changing how engineers design, test and optimise systems, enabling more intelligent, predictive and efficient solutions. For Noora, the opportunity to work with these emerging tools is one of the most exciting parts of modern engineering.
Encouraging the next generation of engineers
Noora is passionate about encouraging more young women to consider engineering as a career.
Her advice is simple: be curious, ask questions, and don't be put off by outdated perceptions of what engineering looks like.
It is not, she says, only about factories, heavy equipment or hard hats. With a strong foundation in maths and science, and the willingness to keep learning, engineering offers diverse career paths, opportunities to innovate, and the chance to solve meaningful, global challenges.
Why this matters for modern engineering
Stories like Noora's highlight an important shift in engineering today. It is increasingly multidisciplinary, dependent on collaboration across functions, and driven by sustainability, digitalisation and real-world performance. Most importantly, it shows that engineering is not defined by a single pathway or profile, but by curiosity, capability and a willingness to keep learning.
Interested in building an engineering career with real world impact?
Discover current opportunities, graduate programmes and career paths at IMI and see how you can help shape the future of industrial automation through engineering excellence, digital innovation and sustainable solutions.